Hospice Rolls Out Pet Peace of Mind Program in 2011

  • By Lisa Amstutz
  • December 14, 2010
  • 250
                        
Hospice & Palliative Care of Greater Wayne County is looking forward to new programming and continued growth in 2011. Executive director Colleen Nettleton is excited about the Pet Peace of Mind program that begins this month. The program will help patients maintain their pets at home as long as possible, even providing animal care while they are in the hospital. “It will give the patient and the family peace of mind to know that the pet is taken care of,” said Nettleton. The New Year brings some new challenges as well, including Medicare changes. “One of the big changes with Medicare is that patients will need to be recertified after the first two 90-day periods, and they must do a face-to-face visit with a doctor or nurse practitioner,” said Nettleton. “It’s not a big problem for us, however, because of the availability of doctors and nurse practitioners that can go to wherever the patient calls home, whether that is their own home or a nursing home.” The hospice team includes 72 paid staffers and 170 volunteers who help with everything from patient care to transportation to office work. Hospice served about 650 patients directly last year, but when families and those attending bereavement programs are taken into account, the number is far greater. Hospice takes an interdisciplinary approach to patient care, offering not only medical care but also spiritual, emotional and practical support. Their team of medical personnel, counselors, clergy, social workers and others works to meet the needs of patients and families holistically. Hospice began as a service for cancer patients but now serves many struggling with the end stages of Alzheimer’s, heart disease and other life-limiting conditions. “We are experts in pain management,” said Community Relations Coordinator Tammy Cruise. The average length of hospice care is 53 days, but a third of patients are enrolled for a week or less. “It’s not a good thing when they start that late. We’re scrambling to get their pain under control and can’t get to many things we can and would normally do for the patient and family,” Nettleton said. “We just want to continue to reach out and get people that need our services into our program. The longer they are in the program, the more we can help them.” Hospice assists patients in reaching whatever goals they set for themselves. Two programs are particularly helpful in this regard. The Hospice Hope fund is similar to Make-a-Wish, Nettleton said, and helps patients who would like to visit family, attend a special event, etc. The Frances M. Loess Life Legacy Project offers patients the opportunity to record memories and family stories. “It’s very special for the families to have a lasting remembrance of their family member,” Nettleton said. “It can be healing for the patient as well.” Hospice’s grief and bereavement programs are free and open to the public. Monthly workshops focus on specific topics and a summer children’s camp teaches children positive ways to handle grief and loss. Six-week support groups, dinner social groups and individual counseling are offered as well. Hospice & Palliative Care of Greater Wayne County serves Wayne, Holmes and Medina counties with offices in Wooster and Wadsworth. For more information, call 330-264-4899 or 1-800-884-6547.


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